CHIEF Commissioner Christine Nixon will get sweeping new powers to
drug-test Victoria's 11,000 police officers under legislation to be
introduced in State Parliament today.

Under the law, police will
be subject to routine testing for alcohol and drugs after critical
incidents such as police shootings or high-speed chases that result
in injuries.

The law will also give Ms Nixon unprecedented powers to order
tests to protect the "good order or discipline of the force". This
will open the door for possible targeted or random testing —
including whole squads or stations.

The Police Regulation Act Amendment Bill (2007) will give senior
police power to order junior officers to undertake drug and alcohol
tests if it is suspected they have come to work under the influence
and unfit for duty.

It is believed the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department
has already discovered evidence that some officers are using drugs
and are involved in low-level trafficking.

In one case a police car was used to deliver pills to a group of
off-duty police partying at an inner-suburban hotel.

Some senior police say they believe up to 10 per cent of young
officers have dabbled with illicit substances. One policeman has
died from an ecstasy overdose.

Senior officers want a system where police in high-risk areas,
such as drug investigators, are regularly tested.

Police Minister Bob Cameron will introduce legislation in
Parliament today to give Ms Nixon the powers, which she has been
seeking for almost six years.

She met Mr Cameron early this year to discuss her concerns and
recommended changes to the Police Regulations Act to support the new
drug-testing powers. Mr Cameron promised to introduce the changes by
the end of the year.

The Government has deliberately made the legislation broad in
scope to enable Ms Nixon to increase drug testing if initial testing
reveals a serious problem across the force.

Under the system, police who seek assistance will be offered an
amnesty and receive treatment. Those caught through urine tests will
face a Professional Standards Assessment Panel, which can recommend
treatment, criminal charges and/or disciplinary action including
dismissal.

The assessment panel will review the offender's employment
history, the drugs used, whether he or she was affected while
carrying out operational duties and if the drugs were "illegally
obtained via work".

Under the welfare section of the new law, police health records
will be protected as confidential to ensure they cannot be used
against police who have or are receiving treatment for abuse
problems.

NSW police have undergone drug testing for 10 years and this year
increased the number or random tests to 2200.

Independent inquiries in NSW, Queensland and WA have found drug
use by police is a serious problem that requires immediate action.

Another major change in the act will be to split the Office of
Police Integrity from the Ombudsman's office. George Brouwer will
retain his position as Ombudsman and a new OPI director with
judicial experience will be appointed.